Updated 2/8/2019

To me, cleaning your mac is like cleaning out your room. It’s best to take everything out and put back only what you need.

Here is an up-to-date list of software I always install when setting up a new mac or wiping my current mac.

developer tools installed with Homebrew

• git
• dart (via homebrew)
• go
• bazel
• bash-completion (for git)

developer tools installed manually

• WebStorm, IntelliJ
• docker
• jekyll (gem install jekyll)
• my dotfiles
• my scripts

Manually Installed

• Chrome
• Dropbox
• Spotify
• Sublime Text 3
• SourceTree
• Beamer
• Calibre
• Boxer
• OpenEmu
• Spectacle
• Amethyst
• Notion
• Slack
• VimR
• Android Studio
• Paw

Mac App Store

• Things 3
• XCode
• Dash
• 1Password
• iMovie
• BetterSnapTool
• BetterTouchTool
• Day One
• Slack
• Pixelmator
• Sketch 3
• Kindle
• Kindle
• Pages
• Numbers
• Keynote
• DeskCover
• ToothFairy
• Feedy
• Caffeine
• DaisyDisk

Music Software

• Logic Pro X
• Ableton Live 9 Standard
• Axe Edit
• Fractal Bot
• MFC-Edit
• Arturia V Collection 6
• NI Komplete 5
• Apogee Maestro
• Guitar Pro 6

Fun & Games

• Steam
• Dwarf Fortress (Lazy Mac Pack)
• Starcraft 2
• Dota 2
• Gnomoria
• Overcooked! 2
• Bad North
• Minecraft
• PICO-8
• OpenEmu

iOS:

Home Screen

• Gmail (R.I.P. Inbox)
• YNAB
• Day One
• InfiniList
• Spotify
• 1Password
• Onewheel
• Things
• Google Maps

Utilities

• Cash
• Venmo
• Dropbox
• Bandsintown
• Yahoo Sports
• AirBnB
• Uber
• Slack
• Gitter
• AllTrails
• Wikipedia
• MyClimb
• Trello
• SoundHound
• Google Docs
• Parking Kitty (a Portland, OR parking app)
• MyFitnessPal
• Wealthfront
• Google Keep

Social Media:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Snapchat
• Untappd
• Yonder
• LinkedIn
• Quora
• Bitmoji

Reading / Audio

• Podcasts
• Apollo
• Pivit
• Audible
• Kindle
• NPR One

Education

• Youtube
• Duolingo
• Libby

Games

• Chess.com
• Downwell
• QuizUp
• Heads up
• Cribbage with Grandpa

Music

• Cleartune
• Metro Timer
• Guitar Atlas
• iReal Pro

iPad:

• Books
• Kindle
• Chess.com
• Garageband
• Gmail
• FTL
• Logic Remote
• Duolingo

IntelliJ Setup

• Obsidimod or wwdc16 color scheme
• Rainglow (I prefer Hawaii or Peacock color scheme)
• IdeaVim
• Plugins: Go, Flutter, Dart, Python, Bazel, Protobuf

Cleaning Up

It’s more difficult to wipe files in the cloud, so it’s better to just go through them and purge.

• iCloud directory
• Dropbox folder
• Notes app
• Workflowy

Backing Up

It’s important to back up important files.

• Photos Library
• Documents
• Code
• Music

Wiping

This MacPaw article (scroll to the bottom) has good instructions to reformat your disk and reinstall macOS.